PITTSBURGH — Janet L. Gurney, 71, formerly of Brunswick and Cundy’s Harbor, died May 29 after a three-year battle with lung cancer.

Born Sept. 21, 1943, in Brunswick, Gurney was the daughter of Mattie Alexander Collins and Alton C.E. Collins Sr. She was a 1962 graduate of Brunswick High School.

Gurney worked at Roger’s Ace Hardware in Bath, where she was a cashier and a front-end employee who met and greeted every customer with a smile. Previously, she worked at the Hyde School and at The Highlands. In addition, she was the owner and operator of Topsham Carwash and of Giggling Gull Laundromat. For over 30 years, Gurney also worked at J & J Cleaners in Brunswick.

She enjoyed her participation in activities at First Baptist Church, especially the women’s lunch gatherings. She also regularly attended the monthly luncheons for her high school class. She loved animals, was proud to be from Maine, and enjoyed taking car rides and dining on an occasional Fatboy burger with a frappe or a lobster roll.

Gurney was predeceased by her husband, Wayne Thompson; brothers, Alton and Allen; sisters, Lovinia Lane and Naomi Gordon; and step-daughter, Karen Thompson.

She is survived by her son, Richard Gurney, and his wife, Kelly, of Pittsburgh; stepdaughter, Barbara Thompson, of San Diego; grandson, Caleb Gurney, of New Gloucester; brother, Richard Collins, and his wife, Jane, of Harpswell; many nieces and nephews; and her pets, Kiki and Bubba.

A memorial service will be held in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dean Snell Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 104, Brunswick, ME 04011, or to the Dean Snell Cancer Foundation, c/o Five County Credit Union, P.O. Box 598, Bath, ME 04530.


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